Is Fido less active and Interested? It may Be a lot more than “Just getting Older”
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As we age, we all concern the A-word—Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is a loss of cognitive function in the brain. Cognitive functions refer to our ability to remember, think, make connections, and fix problems. As cognitive functions decline, behavior can also change. According to a 2012 report from the Alzheimer’s Association, one in eight older Americans has Alzheimer’s disease.
Cognitive loss can also affect our family pets and researchers actually study cognitive loss in animals to help better understand how and why humans may develop Alzheimer’s disease. A recent issue of The Veterinary Clinics of north america featured a report on cognitive loss in dogs and cats, which is called Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome. Here’s what the researchers reported:
Many of the microscopic changes seen in the brains of humans with Alzheimer’s disease are shared by dogs and cats with Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome.
In lots of cases, the first change that’s observed in a pet with cognitive loss is a change in behavior. common changes are disorientation, changes in interactions with owners, sleep problems, accidents in the house, and changes in activity. Cats may also start vocalizing a lot more at night.
After age 12, about one in three dogs may have Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome.
About one in three cats between 11-15 years old and half of cats over 15 may have Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome
Researchers from the Universidad de Zaragoza in Spain looked for a relationship between cognitive status and activity in dogs. As dogs aged, they investigated whether decreases in activity level and exploring behavior could be explained by simply “getting older” or whether they were linked to the dogs developing cognitive problems. They will report their findings later this year in the Veterinary Journal. As dogs aged normally, they tended to become less curious and vocalize less. Some behaviors, though, suggested dogs were developing cognitive losses. even with aging, dogs tended to remain interested in their environment. Dogs losing cognitive abilities spent a lot more time standing near and sniffing corners of the room, while normal aging dogs spent a lot more time sniffing and scratching at doors. Older healthy dogs tended to stay in central areas and doorways a lot more than cognitively impaired dogs, who moved away from doors and central areas and tended to stay in the corners of rooms. In addition, as dogs developed cognitive impairments, they substantially minimized the amount of time they would sit or lie without moving, becoming a lot more restless.
In humans, research shows that exercising your brain is crucial for helping to keep the brain sharp and memory crisp. Reading, playing board games, and other mentally stimulating activities are crucial tools to help keep your mind sharp and alert. Taking pet dog classes, meeting other dogs at the pet dog park, and playing games with your pet can be great ways for you to keep both yourself and your favorite pet both physically and mentally fit. You can use interactive puzzle toys for your pet to get treats or use old-fashioned games of hide-and-seek or treasure hunts to keep the brain cells firing. keeping mind and body active are crucial for both physical and mental health at every age.